Prefabricated bridge

ABSTRACT

A prefabricated bridge capable of being constructed at the situs of use comprising a longitudinal main beam, rigidly connected, to prevent axial rotation, at its ends to a pair of transverse beams mounted on bridge abutments, a plurality of transverse slab members resting on the main beam which form a deck for the bridge, and a plurality of inclined lateral web members each being pivotally connected at its bottom edge to the bottom of the main beam and at its top edge to one end of the slab members.

Unite States atent [1 1 Cornelius et al.

PREFABRICATED BRIDGE Inventors: Friedrich Cornelius, Lutherstrasse 11, Ludenscheid; Erich Pulpanek, Lunen, both of Germany Assignee: said Cornelius, by said Pulpanek Filed: Mar. 15, 1973 Appl. N0.: 341,470

US. Cl 14/17, 52/87, 52/174 Int. Cl. E04c 3/02 Field of Search 14/17, 67, 73; 404/1;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1876 Johnson 104/124 12/1886 Lattimer 104/124 5/1890 Clarke 1 104/124 4/1901 Petersen 14/6 X 1 Mar. 25, 1975 3,156,018 11/1964 s16 1er 52/75 3.367074 2/1968 Vanich 52/174 x 3,405,496 lO/l968 Van 1961 114661.... 52/86 x 3,566,557 3/1971 06616111 52/174 x Primary Examiner-Nile C. Byers Attorney, Agent, or Firn1Millen, Raptes & White [57] ABSTRACT 6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PMENTEBHARZ 5 I875 FIG3 FIGS

PREFABRICATED BRIDGE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION cated bridge adapted to be constructed rapidly from a.

small number of prefabricated basic components of simple construction and preferably adapted for uses I where medium sized spans are required.

It is another object to provide a prefabricated bridge adapted for temporary use which can be constructed and dismantled rapidly.

Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains.

DETAILED DISCUSSION In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention a single mono-web main beam is provided, both sides of which are linked to the aforesaid support webs.

The invention in an ideal manner permits the utilization of the advantages of adopting preconstruction principles. In accordance with the aforesaid preferred embodiment of the invention, a single main beam only is provided which is premanufactured, preferably of concrete. This main beam is defined as a fully pivotally mounted mono-web main beam, as explained hereinafter. This permits the bridging of support widths between 8 and meters, for example, but spans outside these limits are also possible. This main beam accommodates all loads and transmits the load to the abutments. The main beam, by means of terminal transverse beams, rests on the abutments, thereby being supported in a statically determinate manner. These terminal transverse beams accommodate the torsional moments arising in the main beam. The terminal transverse beams may be provided. as premanufactured components, preferably of concrete, or may be constructed of reinforced concrete cast in situ. The remaining premanufactured structural components, also preferably concrete, more preferably reinforced concrete, are the support webs and the slab membersfor the deck. The support webs, being pivotally mounted, i.e., having the capability of flexing movement, distribute and transmit the loads of the deck to the main beam or beams.

The dimensions of the support webs in the longitudinal direction of the main beam are several times as large as the corresponding dimensions of the slab deck members. Accordingly, it is made possible for the individual premanufactured components each to have more or less similar weights, which is an advantage in the context of using any particular mechanical construction means.

For the purpose of bridging larger spans, e.g., larger than 20 meters, the scope of the invention provides for the employment of one or more intermediate supports on which the individual mono-web main beams may be supported in the described manner.

All components of the premanufactured bridge in accordance with the invention are pivotally linked to one another, thus ensuring a complete transmission of the load onto the main beam.

The slab members of the deck are interconnected in a manner known per se by grouted joints to form a firm continuous deck slab acting as an integral sheet.

The premanufacturedbridge in accordance with the invention can be dimensioned for example up to a deck width of 7.5 meters using a single main beam. In the event of larger deck widths, e.g. up to more than 10 meters being required, it is possible to provide two main beams parallel to one another which along their bottom edges on sides facing one another are pivotally interconnected by horizontal webs. In that case as well, the main beams act as freely pivotally mounted main beams. The slab-shaped horizontal web's in combination with the support webs and the slab members of the deck combine to form a structure linkage system which acts to transmit all forces directly to the two main beams.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described by way of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1' is a partially broken-away side elevation view of a premanufactured bridge according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view with partly removed deck of the premanufactured bridge of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view through the loadcarrying structure;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial section along lines IV IV of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view, similar to FIG. 3, through the load-carrying structure of another embodiment of the invention.

As shown in the drawings, a pair of abutments 1, each comprising a load-bearing shoulder 2, serve to position and support the premanufactured bridge according to the invention. These abutments are constructed in conventional manner and are not a direct part of the bridge of this invention.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 comprises a main beam 3, preferably an I-beam, a plurality of slab or plank members 4, which form the deck of the bridge, and a plurality of angularly positioned support webs or'plates 5 which connect the ends of the slab deck members 4 to the bottom, i.e., lower vertical edge, of main beam 3. The main beam 3, which is illustrated in cross-section in FIG. 3 is designed as a freely pivotally mounted mono-web main beam, i.e., under bending moments it can yield pivotally about a pivoting axis normal to main beam 3, where that beam rests on the shoulders 2.

The inclined support webs 5 are rectangular in shape and abut each other in the longitudinal direction of the bridge span, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, to form a substantially continuous structural web.

The longitudinal ends of main beam 3 and the terminal transverse beams 6 to which the ends of main beams 3 are mounted rests on the respective bearing shoulders 2 of abutments 1. The terminal transverse beam may be constructed of concrete cast in situ. It is 3 also possible to use prefabricated terminal transverse beams 6 which are jointed by conventional joint constructions to the main beam 3"and cast together. These terminal transverse beams 6 transmit the torsional moments of the main beam 3 to the abutment 1 such that the main beam 3 is firmly held against torsional movement. At its bottom portion, the main beam 3 is provided with support surfaces for the inclined support webs 5. In addition, connecting bolts 7 are provided for connecting the main beams 3 to the support webs 5. The slab deck members 4 and the free ends of the supporting webs 5 are also provided with appropriately shaped connecting grooves. Additional connecting bolts 7 are provided for connecting the support webs 5 to the slab deck members 4 and for providing the connection between the main beam 3 and the slab deck members 4. Particulars of these connecting bolts require no detailed explanations, since these are details which are not essential to the invention. The terminal support webs 5' may be abbreviated in order not to interfere with the associated terminal transverse beam 6.

All above described components of the premanufactured bridge according to the invention are provided as premanufactured structural units. The assembly of the premanufactured bridge on the building site takes place by first placing the main beam 3 on the abutment l. The terminal transverse beams 6 are then either cast of concrete in situ or are connected to the main beam 3 in the form of premanufactured components and grouted together. This is followed by fitting the first pair of support slabs 5, starting at one end of the bridge. These support slabs are held in place by appropriate false-work ortemporary construction. Next, the slab deck members 4 are applied and fixed in place one after the other. After at least two slab deck members 4 have been fixed, the false-work of the first pair of supporting webs 5 may be released. It is now possible to fit a further pair of support webs 5 to the main beam and hold it in place by false-work. Additional slab deck members 4 are applied, aligned and fixed in place. Thus, the assembly of the premanufactured bridge progresses until the opposite abutment is reached. The connecting bolts 7 are grouted in place in the conventional manner.

The individual slab members 4 of the deck are similarly grouted together as is shown in FIG. 4. FIG. -4 illustratestwo adjoining slab deck members 4 connected by a butt joint. Reinforcement loops 8 project from each deck member 4. Reinforcement rods 9 are inserted through these reinforcement loops. Finally a grouting joint pin 10 is cast. These grouting joints cause the slab deck members 4 to be interconnected in the form of a rigid deck which acts as an integral sheet.

The length of the main beam 3 depends on the desired bridge span. The dimensions of the slab deck members 4 determine the width of the deck of the bridge. The dimensions of the slab deck members 4 in the longitudinal direction of the beam 3 are selected preferably in such a manner that the individual slab deck members 4 have a desirable weight in order that they can be handled by conventionally available hoisting means. The same applies to the dimensioning of the support webs 5. Because the support webs 5 have a lower weight per unit of surface area than that of the slab deck members 4, the dimensions of the support webs in the longitudinal direction of the main beam are several times greater than the corresponding dimensions of the deck members. It is also possible to manufacture the support webs and slab deck members of structural light concrete, thereby reducing the weight of the premanufactured webs.

With comparatively larger total spans, it is possible to connect in series a succession of premanufactured units as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 by providing intermediate supports on which the individual successive main beams 3 are carried and supported.

Larger deck widths are possible by means of the construction shown in FIG. 5. Therein, two main beams 3 are provided which at their bottom edges are interconnected by slab-shaped horizontal webs 11. Slab deck members 4 are laid across the main beams 3, their ends being joined to the upper edges of the inclined support webs 5, the lower edges of the abutting webs being joined to the bottom edge of a main beam 3. The individual joints between the various premanufactured components are similarly designed pivotally and connected as previously described. The aforegoing description applied mutatis mutandis with respect to static conditions and load conditions, and accordingly it is not necessary to set forth the performance of this bridge construction in further detail.

From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention, and without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.

What is claimed is:

1. A bridge, capable of being constructed at the situs of use ofprefabricated members and resting at its ends on bridge support means, comprising:

at least one longitudinal main beam, having substantially parallel top and bottom portions, said beam being resistant to torsional deformation;

means structurally cooperating with said main beam and said bridge support means for stabilizing said beam against axial pivotal movement and for supporting said beam in a statically determinate manner;

inclined lateral support webs having their bottom edges connected to the bottom portion of said main beam said support webs abutting longitudinally to form a substantially continuous structural web; and

a plurality of parallel slab deck members forming the decking of the bridge, transversely mounted on the top portion of said main beam, the ends of said deck members being connected to the top edges of said inclined lateral support webs.

2. A bridge according to claim 1, wherein said means structurally cooperating with said main beam and said bridge support means includes a transverse end beam for rigidly holding said main beam against pivotal movement, said end beam resting on said bridge support means.

3. A bridge according to claim 1, including two main beams disposed parallel to one another and horizontal webs interconnecting the bottom portions of said two main beams.

4. A bridge according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal dimensions of said support webs are several times as large as the corresponding longitudinal dimension of said slab deck members.

5. A bridge according to claim 1, including grouted joints for joining together said slab deck members to said beam, rectangular lateral support webs for forming a continuing structure of triangular cross-section with said main beam and the extending ends of said deck slabs, and means for interconnecting said lateral support webs along one side to said deck slabs and along the opposite side to the lower portion of said main beam. 

1. A bridge, capable of being constructed at the situs of use of prefabricated members and resting at its ends on bridge support means, comprising: at least one longitudinal main beam, having substantially parallel top and bottom portions, said beam being resistant to torsional deformation; means structurally cooperating with said main beam and said bridge support means for stabilizing said beam against axial pivotal movement and for supporting said beam in a statically determinate manner; inclined lateral support webs having their bottom edges connected to the bottom portion of said main beam said support webs abutting longitudinally to form a substantially continuous structural web; and a plurality of parallel slab deck members forming the decking of the bridge, transversely mounted on the top portion of said main beam, the ends of said deck members being connected to the top edges of said inclined lateral support webs.
 2. A bridge according to claim 1, wherein said means structurally cooperating with said main beam and said bridge support means includes a transverse end beam for rigidly holding said main beam against pivotal movement, said end beam resting on said bridge support means.
 3. A bridge according to claim 1, including two main beams disposed parallel to one another and horizontal webs interconnecting the bottom portions of said two main beams.
 4. A bridge according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal dimensions of said support webs are several times as large as the corresponding longitudinal dimension of said slab deck members.
 5. A bridge according to claim 1, including grouted joints for joining together said slab deck members to form a substantially continuous decking for said bridge.
 6. A bridge constructed of prefabricated components capable of being assembled or partly assembled at the site of use, comprising at least one longitudinal main beam having upper and lower parallel portions, said beam being resistant to torsional deformation and having at least one end adapted to be supported in a statically determinate manner, bridge deck slabs for resting on said main beam and having ends extending beyond said beam, rectangular lateral support webs for forming a continuing structure of triangular cross-section with said main beam and the extending ends of said deck slabs, and means for interconnecting said lateral support webs along one side to said deck slabs and along the opposite side to the lower portion of said main beam. 